Micromax Canvas Turbo A250: A specifications review

Finally, Micromax has launched its first full-HD smartphone dubbed the Canvas Turbo A250 for Rs 19,990. The phone maker ensures that no stone is left unturned at marketing the new device. It has even roped in Wolverine star, Hugh Jackman to endorse the Canvas Turbo. Though the company is a late entrant in the desi HD smartphone club, the Canvas Turbo comes with a pretty nifty specs sheet, given the price. Let’s take a closer look at its specifications.

User Interface – Android 4.2.1Micromax keeps it pretty simple with the user interface as the Canvas Turbo runs on stock Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean OS. One can expect smart gestures like answering a call by simply placing the phone on your ears or putting an active call on speaker by flipping over the phone. It also includes the gimmicky “blow to unlock” feature that was seen in the Canvas 4.

The phone comes with a list of pre-loaded apps from the company such as M! Security, M! Live, M! Unlock as well as third party vendors like Spuul, Hike, Opera Mini and more. If you remember, Micromax has also signed a deal with BlackBerry to preload BBM on its Canvas phones. So, you can expect BBM for Android too. It includes a feature called ifloat that serves as a quick launcher for calls, messages, browser, settings, etc. from any screen. The Canvas Turbo also supports popup video, popup browser, and multi video view.

Cellular Connectivity – GSM, 3GThe Canvas Turbo supports GSM and 3G networks. However, it should be noted that the company has started working on 4G-enabled devices, which are expected to be launched later this year.

Display – 5-inch SHARP full HD CGS One of the major disappointments with the Canvas 4 was its 720p screen instead of the highly anticipated full-HD display. Micromax has now caught up with the rest as the Canvas Turbo sports a 5-inch SHARP full HD CGS (Continuous Grain Silicon) IPS display, which brings the pixel count all the way up to 441ppi. This means, we can expect crisp and clear images. Micromax has also included the NM2 wide angle technology so that users can view the display in any angle, even in broad daylight.

Canvas Turbo sports a 5-inch full HD display

Form-factor– Anodised aluminium bodyThe company hasn’t disclosed the official dimensions and weight of the Canvas Turbo yet, but we can safely assume it won’t be too far off from the dimensions of the Canvas 4. At a glance, the device does come across as pretty sophisticated. It is built of anodised aluminium and Micromax claims that it also doubles as an antenna to boost signal strength.

Wi-FiThe Canvas Turbo supports Wi-Fi, but so far there has been no mention of the connectivity options. There is no word on dual-band support either.

Processor – 1.5GHzMicromax continues employing Mediatek chipsets on its devices. The Canvas Turbo is powered by MediaTek’s MT6589T quad-core processor that clocks at 1.5GHz. It is coupled with 2GB of RAM, which means one can expect smooth UI access. The recently released Gionee Elife E6 is also powered with a similar processor. Graphics are handled by a dedicated PowerVR graphics processor to enhance user experience while playing games or watching movies.

Internal storage – 16GB, no room for expansionThe Canvas Turbo is available with 16GB onboard storage option, which isn’t bad. However, neither does it offer other storage capacities nor has it included a memory card slot.

Camera – 13-megapxiel BSI sensor, 5-megapixel front-facing cameraOn the camera front, the Canvas Turbo comes with a 13-megapxiel BSI sensor on the rear side with support for auto-focus and LED flash. It also has a 5-megapixel front shooter. The company has come with a quirkily named “Camerazzi” camera app that adds several new features. For instance, Cinemagraph allows users to animate still photographs. The 360 degree Panorama capture weaves together individual shots to create one panorama image. Users can get rid of unwanted objects and improve images with the Object Eraser feature.

Hugh Jackman endorses the Canvas Turbo

Sensors – All the regular optionsThe Canvas Turbo gets all the usual suspects such as accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity and compass. Let us just hope that the proximity sensors don't mess up like they do in most budget smartphones.

GPS – A-GPSJust like most of the smartphones in its class, the A250 supports Assisted GPS.

Battery – Li-Ion 2000 mAhRounding up the package, is a decent sized 2,000mAh battery. The rated battery life promises 105 hours of standby time and 7 hours of talk time. We'll wait for the full review where the Turbo will be put through the tech2 Loop tests to figure out its 'real' battery life.

The bottom lineOn paper, the Turbo A250 easily comes across as one of the best value-for-money Android smartphones under Rs 20,000. While everything looks good on paper, it will now depend on how efficiently the Canvas Turbo delivers. If it hits the right chords with performance, then Micromax could very well have yet another winner.